The Alabaster Staff - Edward Bolme [32]
"Did it hurt?" asked Kehrsyn, peering more closely at Eileph's face.
"Did what hurt?" he countered.
"That… burn on your face."
Eileph raised one hand to his cheek and said, "That was a wee mishap I had while trying to distill a potent acid. Yes, it hurt. There's nothing quite like feeling acid eat away your eye."
"How did you deal with the pain?" Kehrsyn asked.
Eileph looked at her with affronted dignity and replied, "I am Thayan."
Kehrsyn smiled. "Right," she said, finding in that simple truth the key to her own pride. She was an Untheri, and she could deal with a burned arm, even rejoice in her endurance.
"Enough of my face, young lady," said he with a wave of his tattooed hand. "Maker knows I've seen enough of it myself. You came here for business. Your name is…?"
"Kehrsyn."
"Yes, of course. I was told to expect you, but I did not expect you so soon. Do you have it?"
"No… no, not yet," she said.
"I see," said Eileph. "Are you seeking some additional… supplies? I have quite a range of items both alchemical and-"
"No, I don't have any… I don't have a need for any, uh, new items. I was more just dropping by to, you know, see who I was dealing with." Kehrsyn hesitated. "Um… can you, you know, cast a healing spell or something?"
"Humph," grunted the wizard. "I would think that someone going after a high-stakes target like yours would have healing enough of her own."
Kehrsyn shrugged.
Eileph shook his head and said, "Healing is not my specialty, young lady. Besides, pursuant to the war, Thay has made an agreement with Unther that we shall sell healing potions only to the military."
Kehrsyn sagged onto a stool and stared at the ground.
"I couldn't afford a potion, anyway," she said. "I just wanted a little spell."
Eileph studied her for just a moment, then said, "I have a proposition for you."
Kehrsyn looked up, bleak hope in her eyes.
"You're going into a very interesting place," the Red Wizard continued. "You may find some other magical trinkets around. I will purchase the right of first refusal on them. I will give you ten silvers now, as a deposit. If you find anything interesting, you sell it to me at full market price. Deal?"
Eileph spat on his hand and held it out.
"Deal," said Kehrsyn, spitting on her palm and shaking his hand.
Eileph's grip was weak, which, considering how weak her own grip was, Kehrsyn found discomforting.
"Done and done," said Eileph, counting out the coins and pressing them warmly into Kehrsyn's hands. "Was there anything else you needed, young lady?"
Kehrsyn clutched the coins tightly, counted them again, then slid them into a pouch inside her sash.
"Well, no," she said, "not yet, but there's…"
"Yes, of course, there's that other business," said Eileph. "Come take a look."
He kneeled down and picked up a large, leather portfolio. He placed it on a side table and opened it up, pulling out a few sheets of fine paper.
"I've been doing a little divination," the wizard cackled, "to help me with my part of the work. Strictly subtle spells, I assure you, nothing that would raise an eyebrow. I must say, I'm looking forward to seeing this beauty in real life."
He laid the pages on the low table in the center of the tent. Exquisite graphite drawings covered the sheets, meticulous studies that showed the details of the carvings in the wand, which lay in a lined box. Kehrsyn studied the drawings carefully. The sorceress's description had left her with a far different impression of the item. She'd expected a sturdy, weatherworn item, but if these diagrams were a good depiction-and, based on the skill with which they were drawn, Kehrsyn felt certain they were-the wand was in excellent shape.
"Judging by its aura," Eileph said, "it might be a necromancer's staff, but it has a unique style I've not seen before."
Kehrsyn pulled back. Eileph's breath was offensive with the smell of untended hygiene.
"Necromancer's staff?" she asked. "You